Self adjusting valve gearing



y 1931. H. r. THOMAS SELF ADJUSTING VALVE GEARING Filed my 10, 1929 IN VEN TOR. 7710/7/95 WZJQZA ATTORNEY.

Patented May 19, 1931 UNiTEn STATES? Paras? QFFICE HORACE T. THOMAS, F LANSING, MICHIGAN SELFTADJU'STING VALVE GEARING Application filed Ma io, 1929. Serial m. 361,951.

My invention relates to valve gearing and an object of my invention is to provide for 0 the conventional mushroom type used in internal combustion engines. 5 is a pin passing through the lower end of the valve stem 2. .4 is a retaining washer surrounding'the stem 2 and resting upon the pin 5. 6 is an adjusting washer surrounding the stem 2,

with a. suficient clearance 62 between it and the stem to provide for misalinement of parts,

and resting upon the retaining. washer 4 The adjusting washer 6, has a screwthreaded outer cylindrical surface 3 is the valve spring surrounding the stem 2 and acting against the upper surface of the adjusting washer 6.

- 7 is a compensating sleeve having internal screw threads toward its upper end which engage the screwthreads of the adjustingwasher 6. 7a isa-conical seat within the sleeve? at its'lower end. 8 is a valve tappet adapted to reciprocate in the guide A. 9 is the cam shaftand 9a is a cam on the shaft 9 adapted to actuate the tappet 8.

- The tappet Sis cylindrical and hollow from its upper end to a pointtoward its lower end and rising centrally from its lower end is the coaxial cylindrical projection 8a having around its upper end-the conical bearing'Sab. 11 are balls resting upon the seat a and hearing 8ab. 10 is a part adapted at its upper surface to contact the'lower end of the valve stem 2 to actuate the valve and provided around its lower portion with the conical bearing surface 10a, which rests upon the balls 11. The conical seat 70; and the bearing surface 10a are not quite parallel'but diverge somewhat fromeach other toward their lower portions as shown in Figure 1.

By turning the adjusting washer 6 in the sleeve 7 the valve clearance between theupper surface of the part 10 and the lower end :of the stem 2 may be adjusted as required.

'It is usual to set the clearance between end of valve stem and lifter mechanism on auto- 1 mobile motors at five thousandths of an inch for the intakevalve and about eight thousandths for the exhaust valve, when the motoris cold. When the motor is hot these clearance will change to about four thousandths for lntake and five thousandths for exhaust,

due to expansion of valve stem and other parts. f

l/Vhen the dimensions of the parts are changed by a change of temperatureor by wear this clearance will be very nearly mainstained constant bythe action of the ballsll, on. their seats, or bearing surfaces 811, Saab and 10a;

mice is excessive. V

The ball bearing further serves to allow the tappet to turn when struck by a cam without this turning action being carried to the valve stem. t

The sleeve 7 extends into the tappet 8. f It will be observed that the part 10 comes slowly into contact with the lower partof the possible due to noisy valve action when clear- It is desirable to have as little clearance as V valve stem 2 and then both move as one part. v

at the same speed as the actuating tappet.

What Iclaim is: V U 1. The combination ofavalve stemfa part relatively'movable within limits longitudina-lly of said stem and adapted to strike against, to actuate the same, said part being secured to and carried by said stem, a valveactuating means adapted to act through said part, and a clearance measuring and adjust ing device forming a connection between said valve actuating means and said part;

- 2. Thecombination of a valve'stem, a.part relatively movable within limits longitudinally of said stem and adapted I to strike against, to; actuate the same, means adapted toadjust said limits securing said part to said stem so as to be carried thereby, a valve actuating means adapted to act through said I part, and aclearance measuring and adjusting device forming a connection between said valve actuating means and saidpart. 3. The combinationof a valvestem, a part relatively movable withinlimits longitudinallyof said stem, and adaptedtostrike I masses part being adapted-to strike against, to actu ate said stem, a conlcal bearing surfaceon against, to actuate the same, said part being Connected with said stem so as who carrier thereby, a valve actuating means adapted to act through said part, opposing surfaces one on said part and one on a second part carried.

1 by said stem, said surfaces converging to- Wards each 0th'er,-a movable part interposed between said surfaces and a valve actuating means engaging the movable part bet-Ween said surfaces.

4. The combination of 'Jv'alvestefii, apart relatively movable Within limits lengi-tudinally of said stem and adapted to strike against, to actuate the same; said' part being; connected with said stem a valve actuating means adapted t'o-aict through said part, op-' pbsing surfaces one said-'partand one on a" secon apart carried by s aid" stemsaid sur faces converging tov' ar'd-seach other, a nrov able part interposed between said surfaces and a valve a cti'iatiiigI-nieansengaging the movable part between" saidsurfaces, means, for adjusting the surface upon-said second part in a direction longitudinally of saidster'n. i Y

' 5. Thecombination'of valve-stem; apart carried by saidstem and relatively movable Within limits longitudinally thereof, said said part remote from said stem, aconical bearing surface on a second part carried by said stem and opposing vthe first name'dbeajrin'gsurface, balls interposed between said bearing surfaces," said bearing surfaces con-- verging and a valve actuating means acting through said balls. 7 g

6. The combination of a valve sterma part carried by said stem and reilatively niovable Within limits longitudinallyadapted to strike against, to actuate said stem, aconicaibeaiing surfacelon sa'id' part remote from said stem, a conical bearing sur'fa'ceon second part carried by said stem and 'ofiposing the first named bearing surface; balls interposed between said bearing'sur'face's, said bearing surfaces converging and a valve actuating means having a conical surface engaging against said balls as and for the purpose de 4 scribed.

7. The combinationof a valve stem a part secured to, so as to be carried by said stem and relatively movable Within limits lon' itudinally of said stein and adapted to st'ri eagainst, to actuate thesame a valve'act'uating means adapted to act through said part'and a reduced motion construction between said valve actuating meansa-nd saidpart adapted to actuate said part to take up saidrelative movementand then to actuate saidste'rii wlth out lost motion.

8. The combination ofja valve stem, a part relatively movable within limits longitudinally of said stem and adaptedto-strike against, to actuate the same; a valve actuat-- through said balls.-

ing means adapted to act through said part 7 lower end and'a part between the end of said stemanchsaid shoulder and a valve actuating means adapted to act through said part, said ing an inwardly extending shoulder at its sleeve" being: longitudinally adjustable upon said stem: i

10. In a valve gearing, the combin t'i'on of a valve ste:m-,:a' sieelveu poni-said stena and-extending below lili'l dwlf' ll' Cl'lilleT'eOlfi andhaving an inwardly extend" lowe end, a par-t' between-the end of said stem and said shoulder and ar-va-lveactuating.

means adapted toact through saidi pa'rt, said valve actuating. means being hollowand said sleeveexten di ng'into said: hollow l i valve gearing; thecoinb'nation of: a: valvestem', a si'eeve u-poir s stem, and ex tending belovv thelower endthefieof and hav ing an inwardly e;atenfling::simulder at: its

lower and; part between the end of: said' sternand said-shoulder, balls betweenoppos in'g surfaces of said part and of' said shouL- der formingab'allrbearing with saidsurfaces and avalve actuating means: adapted-to act 12. hi avalve-gearin the combination oi valvestema sleeve upon said" stem and extendin betowthe low'er end t-hexec-tanzdhwingan inwardly extending-shoulder at its lower eIid ,-apart between the-end of said: stein and said shoulder, "a'val v'e actuating means adaptedto act throi'i'gh. said part balls between opposingsurfaces of saidpart and of said shoulder"forming;a ball andbai 'ing" With saidsurfaces', saidvalve actuating means b ing provided with a ball raeefengaging' saidballs 13-. In valve gearing;- the 'cdnibination ofa valv'e" stein; a sleeve pon said stern and extending below che -lower end thereof a-ndhaving' "an inwardly extending shoulder atits lower end, part between-the endof saidstem and said shoulder, opposing stir: faces of said part shoulder'forming'ba'll races converging tovvar'dfeach other,- balls be tween said surfaces and forming a ball hearing therewitlraiid a valve actuating means adapted to act through said' bearings, there being some free motion between said part and said stem. 7 i 1 g 14; Ina valve gearing,theco'mbination of "g; shoulder at its ill;

a valve stenri, a sleeve'upon said stem and extendingbelow the lower end thereof and having an inwardlyextendin'gf shoulder-at itslower end, a part between the end of said stein and said. shoulder, opposing surfaces of saidpart and shoulder forming ball races converging toward each other, balls between said surfaces and forming a ball bearing therewith and a valve actuating means having ball bearings engaging said balls and extending approximately at right angles tosaid surfaces, there being some free motion between said part and said stem,

15. The combination of a valvelstem, a part relatively movable within limits longitudinally of said stem and adapted to strike against, to actuate the same,-a conical bearing surface on said part remote from said stem, a conical bearing surface on a secnd part carried, by said stem and opposing the first named bearing surface, balls 7 interposed between said bearing surfaces,

said bearing surfaces converging towards each other and a valve actuating means acting through said balls.

16. The combination of a valve stem, a part 7 relatively movable within limits longitudinally of said stem and adapted to strike against, to actuate the same, a conical bearing surface on said part remote from said stem, a conical bearing opposing the first named bearing surface on a second part carried by said stem, balls interposed between said bearing surfaces, said bearing surfaces converg ing towards eachother and a valve actuating means having a conical surface engaging against said ballsfor the purpose described.

17. In a valve gearing, the combination of a valve stem and an actuator therefor hav- 7 ing a clearance therebetween and a lost-mo tion apparatus between said parts and carried by one of said parts, said apparatus being adapted to be locked by contact with the other of said parts.-

18. The combination of a valve stem, a

' part carried by said stem and having a limited free movement relative thereto constituting the clearance, a valve actuating means acting through said part and. means tween said part and actuating means for obviating the relative movement of said part and valve stem when the relative movement of said stem and actuating means has progressed a certain distance.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

HORACE T. THOMAS. 

